Discover the Health Benefits of Coconut Oil for Dogs

These are just some of the health benefits of coconut oil. This begs the question if coconut oil is good for me, is it also good for my dog?

Tropical Love for Your Best Friend

I recently started cooking home prepared meals for my dogs and the canine nutritionist who created my recipes included one teaspoon of coconut oil daily. So I thought it would be a good idea to see what the health benefits were for my dog. I was pleasantly surprised by what I found but better still, after a few short weeks, my dog’s fur was extra silky.

The first thing I learned was that virgin coconut oil contains about 90% saturated fat, which is enough for you to shy away from giving some to your dog. However, leading dog health experts consider the saturated fats in virgin coconut oil to be beneficial for canines, since the fats are high in lauric acid, which has antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-fungal properties. Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCTs), which is the type of saturated fat in virgin coconut oil, increases a dog’s energy level and improves the metabolism rate. This may be reason enough to get your pooch on a diet that includes virgin coconut oil, but we are just getting started on the numerous health benefits of coconut oil for dogs.

Coconut Oil Mitigates Aging Health Issues

Most veterinarians advocate giving your senior canine a soothing orthopedic bed to sleep in and dog stairs for easy access to the couch. We know these things mitigate muscle, joint, and bone pain. How about something that costs much less and has more long-term value.

Studies have proven that a daily regiment of coconut oil in your dog’s diet will alleviate arthritis pain. The same studies demonstrate that coconut oil also reduces the incidence of brain lesions in older dogs. Older dogs tend to gain weight, as we do during the aging process. The enhanced metabolism rate provided by coconut oil lessens the likelihood that you best friend will become larger than the Pillsbury Dough Boy. Dogs that keep the weight off are less likely to incur debilitating diseases, such as diabetes and cancer.

As they age, dogs also incur the same mental health issues that inflict on us. Coconut oil is an excellent source of the type of fatty acids (Omega-6) that improve brain cell membrane fluidity. Omega-6 also enhances brain cell communication and some research indicates it has a calming effect on dogs

It’s Not Fleas!

We like to blame the flying pests whenever our dog goes to town scratching his skin. Yet, Eczema and Dermatitis cause the vast majority of dog skin problems. Coconut oil helps clear up these two canine nemeses, as well as treat skin fungal infections. Why stop here? Coconut oil helps heal cuts, insect bites and stings, and open wounds. Have you ever marveled at the shiny coat of your neighbor’s dog? Yes, the shiny coat most likely came from a steady diet of coconut oil.

So if you want to try coconut oil for your dog, head to the nearest organic grocery store or shop online for some virgin coconut oil. Here is a link for the brand I buy. I am not compensated in anyway if you click on this link or order from here. I am just posting so you can see the ingredient list and the exact product specs.

Keep in mind that although coconut oil is a supplement, it does not mean the calories it contain are “free”. Each teaspoon of coconut oil will add about 45 calories to your pups daily diet.

PS: My dog Sophy loves the coconut oil so much, she snatched it off the counter and ate about a cup of it before I could catch her and get it back.